EU-based small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can now get EU funding and support for innovation projects through the Horizon 2020 programme and its SME-Instrument, a financing tool worth €3 billion, which is also known as the European Innovation Champions League.

In this context, two Greek technological solutions managed to secure funding (under the instrument’s phase 1) in order to explore the growth potential of their technological ideas. The first company is called Planetek Hellas and operates in the field of Satellite Remote Sensing.

Their proposal is called OP3C. It is a product which is placed on satellites which carry hyperspectral sensors. These sensors are the satellites’ eyes scanning the earth and giving information so detailed that is sometimes impossible to manage due to its sheer size. The Planetek solution manages to leave out the useless information and compress the useful in a manner five times more efficient compared to current technology.

The other company, Helbio specialises in green energy solutions, and more particularly, in hydrogen production from bio-fuels. Its proposal is called PROMETHEUS-5. It consists of a combined heat and power (CHP) energy production system, operating with hydrogen and fuel cells. Manufacturers say it is twice as efficient compared to conventional gensets, and eco- friendly with nearly zero pollutant emissions.